Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany.
Department of Neurosciences and Mental Health, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, University of Milan, Milan, Italy; Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2020 Feb;109:103-113. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.12.021. Epub 2019 Dec 13.
Twin studies in schizophrenia have been crucial in establishing estimates for the heritability and thus providing evidence for a genetic component in this disorder. Recent years have seen the application of the twin study paradigm to both putative intermediate phenotypes and biomarkers of disease as well as a diversification of its use in schizophrenia research. This review addressed studies of brain structure (T1 morphometry) and cognition in schizophrenia using twin study designs. We review major findings such as the overlap of genetic variance between schizophrenia and cognition as a model for the emergence of psychopathology. The use of novel hybrid models integrating molecular genetic risk markers, as well as the use of twin studies in epigenetics might prove to significantly enhance schizophrenia research in the post-GWAS era.
双胞胎研究在精神分裂症中具有重要意义，有助于确定遗传率，从而为这种疾病的遗传成分提供证据。近年来，双胞胎研究范式已应用于潜在的中间表型和疾病生物标志物，以及在精神分裂症研究中的应用多样化。本综述探讨了使用双胞胎研究设计对精神分裂症的脑结构（T1 形态测量）和认知的研究。我们回顾了主要发现，例如精神分裂症和认知之间遗传方差的重叠，作为精神病理学出现的模型。新型混合模型（整合分子遗传风险标记物）的使用以及双胞胎研究在表观遗传学中的应用，可能会在 GWAS 后时代显著增强精神分裂症研究。
